Shutter for automobile lamps



1,505, L LECLERC SHUTTER FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS Filed Feb. 28, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 19, 19240 fizwaaior Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

" UNITED STATES Louis LECLERC, 0F MARIA, QUEBEC, CANADA.

SHUTTER FOB AUTOMOBILE LAMPS.

Application filed February 28, 1923.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, LOUIS LECLERC, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Maria, Province of Quebec, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shutters for Automobile Lamps;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention pertains to a novel shutter for automobile lampsand is designed to be operated in a suitable manner from the driversseat in order to dim the lamps when required.

The device comprises a plurality of overlapping arcuate screens the endsof which are pivoted to opposite sides of the lamp casing. These endsare progressively notched in such a manner that the maximum movement ofeach screen is such as to form a shutter having a spherical surface whenin operative position. To the end of one of the outer members is fixedan operating lever having a tongue extending through the grooves at thatside. At the opposite side a stop member is fixed to the lamp andextends through the notches, whereby the movement of the screens islimited.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lamphaving the invention applied thereto in open position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 1- 1 of Figure 8;

Figure 5 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 4:; showing theshutter in operative position;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the lamp and shutter, showingthe latter in operative position;

Figure 7 is a sectional View corresponding to Figure 3, but showing theopposite end of the device;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a sectionsimilar to Figure 8, showing the device in operative position;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the outer screen;

Serial No. 621,921.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the notched ends of the screens atthe operating end of the device;

Figure 12 is a similar view of the opposite end of the device; and,

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the stop member disposed at the endshown in Figure 12.

In the above views wherein like reference characters are employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout, the numeral 1 indicates a lampcasing within which is contained a reflector 2. A lamp socket 3 extendsthrough the casing and reflector in the usual manner and carries a lamp4 disposed within the reflector. A lens 5 is set into the reflector,while the edge of the casing is surrounded by a rim 6 bearing againstthe outer surface of the lens, as shown by the numeral 7.

To opposite sides of the lamp casing or rim are fixed a pair of bolts 8and 9. These serve as pivots for a plurality of shutters which areadapted to overlap, as illustrated in Figure 6. The ends of thesescreens are enlarged as at 10 and are superposed at opposite sides ofthe lamp, the screens in general being indicated from the outer one tothe inner one by the characters a, b, o, d, e, f, and it.

These ends are notched progressively at opposite sides of the lamp, thenotches at one side increasing in width from the outer screen a to theinner one it forming steps a, b, c, cl, 61, f, g, h. At this end anoperating lever 11 is secured to the end of the outer screen a and has atongue 12 extending through all the notches at this end. The smallestnotch is of such width that the tongue engages the opposite sidesthereof when the device is in closed position, as shown in Figure 11,the tongue bearing against the edge of the outer step a.

The ends of the opposite side of the lamp are similarly notchedprogressively, but in the reverse manner, the notches increasing inwidth from the inner screen it to the outer one a, forming steps of, b,0'', cl, 6, f, g, It. At this end a disk 13 engages the outer screen aand is fixed to the bolt 9 by means of a nut 9. The disk has a tongue orstop member 14: projecting inwardly therefrom into the notches at thatside of the lamp. In the closed position of the shutter, the notchforming the step it is slightly wider than the stop 14, so that thescreen it is permitted to move only the short distance indicated inFigure 6 at the end of which its movement is ended. The remainingscreens are capable of movement on the pivots 8 and 9, increasing inextent from the inner screen it to the outer screen a, in proportion tothe notches forming the steps h. to a.

The lever 11 is provided with an eye 15 to which may be attached asuitableleverage or operating mechanism for turning the tongue 12 fromthe drivers seat. As the tongue 10 is in the direction of the arrowshown in Figure 2, it first engagesthe step a, moving the screen a themaximum distance until the step it engages the stationary stop 14.Similarly, the remaining steps are successively engaged and turned onthe pivots until the double primed steps thereof engage the stop memberwhereby the device is broughtto the position shown in Figures 5, 6 and9. v

\Vhile a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that various alterations in thedetails of construction may be made 1 screen members, each of saidmembers having its ends pivoted to opposite sides of the lamp, the endsof each side being superposed,

said ends being notched progressively at each 7 side of the lamp, thenotches in the ends at through the notches in the ends at said side.

2. In combination with a lamp, a'shutte-r therefor comprising aplurality of arcuatc screen members, each of said members having itsends pivoted to opposite sides of the lamp, the ends of each side beingsuperposed, said ends being notched progressively at each side of thelamp, the notches in the ends at one side increasing from the outer endto the inner one, an operating device secured to said outer end andhaving a tongue extending through the notches at said side, while thenotches in the ends at the opposite side increase from the inner end tothe outer one, and a stationary stop member fixed to the lamp andextending through the notches at said opposite side.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS LECLERC.

